Product for treating bitumens



Patented June 18, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE No Drawing. Application March 30, 1933, Serial No. 663,651

1 Claim. (01. 1s4 1) This invention relates to a composition which may be prepared by skilled operators at a central point to be shipped out to local points to be mixed with bitumens for the purpose'of producing metamorphotic change in the bitumens to increase their ductility and tenacity or adhesiveness.

A primary object of my invention is to provide a product for the above indicated purpose which may be used by unskilled labor to produce the metamorphosed bitumen as the end product, all without technical or closely supervised steps, but at the same time will give a constant, uniform and stable end product. A further important object is to provide a product of the nature indicated which may have small volume so that the cost of shipment may be small when the end product is to be utilized in its metamorphosed condition.

It is known that bitumens are continuously but slowly undergoing metamorphotic changes throughout time, but it is my purpose to bring about metamorphotic changes quickly and under control.

When the metamorphotic compound forming my invention is used, through metamorphosis of the bitumen, various usable bitumens of varying qualities are produced.

To produce this metamorphotic agent or compound, to fifteen parts of a fatty acid such as oleic, stearic acid or the like, and fifteen parts of soap of sodium, potassium, or ammonium base, I add one hundred twenty parts of a mutual solvent therefor, preferably Tetralin which is beta-tetra-hydro-naphthalene, all while heated. Other solvents may be employed, such as monoethyl ether or ethylene glycol, the monobutyl ether of ethylene glycol, monoethyl ether of diethylene glycol, ethyl and isopropyl alcohols, and the like.

The metamorphotic agent thus formed may be stored and shipped for use at any given place or plant. To use it, it is simply poured into the bitumen, the mixture being heated and preferably agitated. As is well known, a considerable variation is found in bitumens as to their characteristics. The proportions of metamorphotic compound and bitumen will depend upon the particular bitumen employed. Knowing the specifications of the particular bitumen selected, then the amount of the metamorphotic compound to 5 be used to obtain a desired metamorphosed bitumen is determined. For example, take the bitumen known to the trade as Texaco No. 115, this bitumen at 7"! degrees F. has a specific gravl ity of 1.00; penetration in 5 seconds by gram weight of not less than 100 millimeters nor more than flash point not less than 420 degrees F.; fire point not less than 520 degrees F.; solubility of 99.5% in carbondisulphide and 99.5% in carbon tetrachloride; and ductility (Dow 15 method) not less than 50 centimeters.

Take 996 grams of this bitumen, and add thereto 1'70 grams of the metamorphotic compound as above indicated. Heat the mixture to below the boiling points of the ingredients and agitate. The end product thus formed is ready for use. The

- end product is substantially stable. By varying the amount of the metamorphotic compound in proportion to the bitumen used varying degrees of metamorphosis are produced.

The solvent Tetralin and other like sub.- stances serve as a metamorphotic agent between the fatty acid and the soap to create the new metamorphotic agent which constitutes my invention and it is this new agent which then is the metamorphotic agent for metamorphosing the bitumen.

I claim:

A preparative unemulsified product to be added 35 ORVALL SMILEY. 

